Double seaming head



Sept. 11, 1934. w. F.'BUTLER 1,972,866

DOUBLE SEAMING HEAD Filed July 6,. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l A! INVENTOR J2ATTORN Yfl Sept. 11, 1934. w. F. BUTLER DOUBLE SEAMI NG HEAD Filed July6. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wigwwh/ff/l/ll////////////////////////////////////////////////9////////V//////fi/ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1934.

w. BUTLER DOUBLE SEAMING HEAD Filed July 6. 1931 5 Sheets-Shed sINVENTOR Sept. 11, 1934. w. F. BUTLER 1572,8656

DOUBLE SEAMING fHEAD Filed July 6. 1951 5 Sheejts-Sheet 4 WfmvgmggATTORNEY 4 Sept. 11, 1934. w. F. BUTLER 1,972,866

DOUBLE SEAMING HEAD Filed July 6. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet s !NVENTOR lATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,972,866 DOUBLE SEAMINGHEAD William F. Butler, Hillside, N. J.,

American Can Company, New York,

assignor to N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application July 6, 1931, Serial No. 548,923

14 Claims.

the provision of a seaming mechanism made up of easily replaceable unitsproviding simplicity of assembly of the parts.

An important object of the invention is the provision of accuratelyadjusting features for a seaming head whereby proper coordination of theinter-related parts is easily obtained.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is betterunderstood from the following description, which, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodimentthereof.

Referring to the drawings:

away of an improved construction of seaming head embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head, the view beingtaken substantially along the broken line 2-2 in Fig. 3 and illustratingthe seaming head connected with a part of a seaming machine;

Figs. 3 to '7 inclusive, are plan sectional views taken at differentlevels in Fig. 2, the respective' levels being substantially indicatedin that figure by the broken lines 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, and 7-7; and vFig. 8 is a bottom or underside plan view of the seaming head as viewedfrom a plane substantially located along the broken line 88 in Fig. 2.

The preferred form of apparatus disclosed in the drawings for thepurpose of illustrating the present invention comprises a supporthousing or frame 51 (Fig. 2) which may be part of a seaming machine ofeither the single spindle or the multiple spindle type. When the machinehas a single spindle the housing 51 is stationary, whereas if themachine is multiple spindle, this housing may form part of a rotatingelement or 55 turret.

v together. A similar A further important object of the invention isFigure 1 is a front elevation partially broken The housing 51 supportsthe seaming head proper which is suspended from a head sleeve 52 held ina split bearing formed by a semi-circular boss 53 of the frame 51 and abearing cap- 54 secured thereto by bolts 55 (see also Fig. l) The headsleeve 52 may be adjusted vertically within the bearing, the upper endof the sleeve bein threaded at 56 for this purpose. An adjusting nut 5'7is threadedly connected with the threaded portion 56 of the sleeve 52and rests upon the upper end of the frame bearing. A locknut 58, alsoengaging the upper end of the threads 56, cooperates with the nut 5'7 tolock the two nuts third nut 59, isthreadedly engaged on the sleeve 52intermediate its length and clamps against the lower faces of thebearing parts 53, 54 these three nuts holding the sleeve 52 in itsadjusted position.

The head sleeve 52 is also provided with an annular shoulder 61 formedtherein near its lower end which supports a roller bearing ring raceway62 positioned on the sleeve. A similar ring raceway 63 surrounds thehead sleeve. 52 directly beneath the nut 59 as illustrated in Fig. 2.Tapered roller bearings 65, 66 roll over the respective raceways 62, 63being held in operative position by engagement with exterior ringraceways 67, 68 held in spaced positions by a spacer bushing 69.

All of the moving parts of the seaming head are directly or indirectlymounted on these bearings 65, 66 and are thus carried with .a minimum offriction. An upper rotary head frame '71 having an upwardly extendingcollar part '72 constitutes a principal support for this purpose. Thecollar section '72 encloses the spacer bushing 69 previously describedand also the raceways 6'7, 68 fixed in and rotary with the frame '71. Aclamping nut '73, threadedly engaging within the upper end of the collarpart '72, holds against the upper raceways 68 and clamps the rollerbearing unit against a shoulder '74 formed in the upper head frame '71.

Rotation of the head frame '71 is eflected by rotation of a spur gear'77, keyed to the collar part '72. The gear '77 meshes with and isdriven by any suitable driving gear '78 which may constitute an elementof the main driving system connected with .the particular seamingmechanism with which the seaming head is to be used. By means 5 of sucha connection the head frame '71 and parts carried thereby arecontinually rotated on a vertical axis, and around the stationary sleeve52. It will be observedby reference to Fig. 2 that the collar '72extends above the gear '77 and is threadn ed at 79 to accommodate aclamping nut 81 which is mounted thereon. This nut clamps against thegear 77 and looks it in position.

A lower head frame 85 (Figs. 2 and 6) is se cured by bolts 86 to thelower end of the upper frame 71. Dowel pins 87 (Fig. 6) are used ascating elements for this connection. By removing the bolts 86, the headmay be readily taken apart and replacements or substitutions made asdesired, this construction also providing great ease in assembly.

The frame 85 is formed with extending arms 88 which correspond in shapeand size to similar arms 89. (see also Fig. 5) formed in the upper frame71, the two sets of arms being spaced one above the other toproviderecesses 91. Links or pivoted arms 92 are mounted in these recesses(Fig. 6), there being four sets of arms 88, 89, four recesses and fourlinks. Each link 92 is formed with lower and upper shaft extensions 93,94 for oscillatory engagement in vertical bores 95, 96 formed in thearms 88, 89. These links 92 provide the proper contour travel of theseaming rollers as they move around the can, this travel being dependentupon the shape of the can being seamed, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed. The seaming levers are thus flexibly connected with therotary part of the head by the links 92.

A chuck sleeve 101 (Fig. 2) is located inside and centrally of the-headsleeve 52, the upper end of the former being threaded at 102 andextending above the end of the sleeve 52 to accomodate a locknut 103threadedly secured to the sleeve 101 and supporting it from above on thesleeve 52.

The-lower end of the chuck sleeve 101 (Fig. 2)

is threaded at 104 forengagement within the upper neck 105 of a chuck106 (Fig; 8) which is supported thereby. A pattern cam 107 (Fig. 7)

- for guiding the seaming rollers in a proper path around the can ismounted beneath the head frames 71-, 85'andis provided with a shoulder108 which rests upon the upper end of the neck 105 of the chuck 106.This cam 107 surrounds the lower end of the head sleeve 52, beingadjustably movable thereon, and is clamped in adjusted position by anadjusting bushing 111 threadedly connected at 112 to the lower end ofthe head sleeve. This bushing 111 is located interiorly of the lowerframe 85 and is provided with a series of spaced vertically disposedspanner slots 109 (see also Fig. 6) which may be engaged by any suitabletool inserted through a horizontal slot or channel 110 formed in theframe part 85. In

adjusting the chuck 106 vertically relative to the supporting chucksleeve 101 the former is brought into proper vertical and also intoproper angular position by movement on the threaded end of thechuck'sleeve 101.

To provide for a close angular adjustment the cam 107 has a dependinglug 113 (Figs. 1 and 2) which projects downwardly between two spacedlugs 114 extending outwardly from the chuck 106. Screws 115 threadedthrough the lugs 114 from opposite sides engage and locate the lug 113relative to the lugs 114,.the cam being correspondingly located. Theadjusting bushing 111 is then I i turned on its threaded connection 112to clamp it tightly against the upper face of the positioned cam 107 andits shouldered part 108 is thus brought tightly against the chuck neck105.

Four seaming rollers are illustrated in the drawings, two of the rollersbeing used for the purpose of forming the first operation in doubleseaming and the other two for the second or final operation. Eachseaming roller is carried on the lower end of a seaming lever, theselevers being on opposite sides and along a diametrical line passingthrough the center of the chuck. In similar manner the second operationseaming rollers are also diametrically opposed but these are positionedin between or at 90 degrees from the first operation rollers.

Each seaming lever comprises a vertically extending body 125- (Figs. 1,5, 6 and 8) which projects inwardly in two spaced lugs 126, 127 whichsupport a vertically extending pin 128 pivotally connected to one of thelinks 92. In this arrangement the seaming levers extend in the directionof the length or axis of the head. In my drawings this axis is verticaland is the axis of rotation. This pin 128 also projects downwardly fromthe lower lug 127. A cam roller 129 (Figs. 2 and 7) is rotatably mountedon this lower part of the pin 128, a roller bearing 130 being interposedbetween pin and roller.

A cam groove 131 is formed in the upper face of the pattern cam 107 andthe cam rollers 129 are located and'have movement within this groove.The shape of the groove 131 insures a proper following of the can seamby the seaming rollers as the seaming head revolves around thestationary chuck 106 as will be hereinafter fully described. a

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 6 that this movement control ofthe pin 128 of each lever 125 is applied at a point directly below itspivotal connection with its link 92. In other words the oscillatorymovement of the links 92 effect a bodily shifting of the pins 128 andwith them the seaming levers, causing the latter to travel around thecan and follow its shape. If a circular can is being seamed the chuck106 will be circular as well as the cam groove 131 in which case thepins 128 and the seaming levers will follow a circular path without anyradial shift- Each seaming lever 125 extends outside of the head frames71, 85 and a lower section 135 (Figs. 1, 7 and 8) extends across theoutside of the cam 107. An arm 136 is formed integrally with thissection 135 and extends inwardly toward the center of the seaming head.A se'amingroller is rotatably carried at the inner extremity of each arm136.

Theseaming levers associated with the first operation of seaming carryfirst operation seaming rollers 137 rotatably mounted on studs 138threadedly engaged in their respective arms 136. In like manner the twoopposite seaming levers associated with the second operation of seamingcarry second operation seaming rollers 141 which are rotatably mountedon studs 142 carried by their lever arms 136.

These seaming rollers may be provided with anti-friction roller or ballbearings mounted between roller and stud. It is these seaming rollersthat are caused to travel in certain paths and at certain times by theproper movement 'of their respective levers. Each of the seaming levers125 is thus shifted on its pivot 128 in order that the seeming rollerassociated therewith may be. brought into and out of seaming position toeffect seaming of the can and its cover.

For holding the can, there is provided a can lift plunger 151 (Fig. 2)which is mounted on the upper end of a stem 152 having sliding movementwithin a bearing 153 formed on the outer of operation of the machine,that is,

end of an arm 154 projecting from the frame 51. The stem 152 is raisedand lowered in proper time relation to the other operations of themachine by suitable mechanism in the usual and preferred manner. Such aplunger 151 is adapted to support a can 155 on which a cover'156 haspreferably been loosely applied; As the can and cover are raised withthe rising plunger 151, the cover is seated against the chuck 106 in theusual manner, and can and cover so clamped between plunger and chuck, isheld stationary throughout the seaming operation.

Each seaming lever is caused to pivot on its pivotal connection 128 by acam control applied to the upper end of the lever. This will now bedescribed, the first operation seaming levers 125 being firstconsidered. These levers are provided with lateralt extensions 161(Figs. 1' and 5) which are formedas integral parts of the levers andwhich extend upwardly and to one side of the main vertical body thereof.The upper face of each extension 161 is grooved at 162, the spaced wallsof the groove being undercut or V-shape, these walls in lateral extentfollowing an arc of a circle as described from the center of the pivotpin 128. The outer part of each extension 161 beyond its groove 162 isvertically slotted at 163 to weaken the section and to form a yieldingwall 164.

A slide 165 is located in each groove 162 and its opposite sides areformed to correspond to the V-shape side walls of the groove. Each slideis movable laterally of its groove for adjustment purposes. An adjustingscrew 166 is threadedly engaged within each lateral extension 161 andits head is adapted to engage one end edge of the slide 165 definitelylocating the slide, laterally, within its groove.

After each slide 165 has been adjusted in position within its groove 162and against the head of the screw 166, the opposite edges of the slideare tightly clamped by springing inwardly of the yielding wall 164. Thisspringing action is effected by clamping screws 16'! which threadedlyengage the lateral extension 161 and pass through the wall 164. In thisway each slide 165 is held in exact position on its associated seaminglever 125.

Each slide 165 carries a stud 168 (Figs. 2 and 3) which carries a ballrace 169 of ball bearings 1'71 rotatably supporting a cam roller 1'72.Each cam roller 1'72 operates within a cam groove 181 formed in theupper section of a face earn 182 provided with an upwardly extendingsleeve 183 which is rotatably mounted on the collar section '72 of thehead frame '71. This cam 182 also revolves around the stationary chucksleeve 101 but has in addition a slight rotative movement relative tothe head frames -'71, 85 and parts carried thereby.

The rotations of the head frame and the cam are efiected by which iscommonly known as differential gearing, the sleeve 183 of the camsupporting a gear 185 keyed thereto. The gear 185 meshes with and isdriven by a suitable gear 186 located directly beneath the other memberof the differential gearing namely, the gear '78. The gear 186 may beany suitable part of the mechanism of the seaming machine.

The gears '78, 186 are rotated at a uniform speed but the gear 185 beinglarger than the head gear 7'7 or stated differently the gear 186 beingsmaller than gear '78, the effect is a retarding movement of the cam 182relative to the revolving seaming head frames. In one complete cycleduring all moved into their seam forming necessaryactions relating tothe completion of seaming of a single can, the cam 182 is caused to makeone complete revolution over each of the cam rollers 1'72 carried by thetwo first operation seaming levers 125.

In similar manner the two second operation seaming levers 125 are camcontrolled and their seaming rollers 141 move in and out to effect thesecond operation of seaming. Each lever 125 associated with the secondoperation of seaming is provided with a lateral extension 191 (Figs. 1and '5) which is grooved at 192 to accommodate a slide 193 also havingside walls formed as arcs. Each slide 193 is also adjustable within itsgrove 192.

For this purpose an adjusting screw 194 cooperates with clamping screws195 to locate and hold the slide in position. The clamping of a slide ismade by the springing of an outer wall part 196 made yielding by a slot197 out in the extension 191. In a manner similar to the slides 165,each slide 193 carries a stud 198 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) on which is mounteda ball race 199 retaining frictionless ball bearings 201 within a camroller 202. Each roller 202 is located within a second and lower camgroove 203 formed in the cam 182 directly beneath the cam groove 181.

-The shape of the cam grooves 181, 203 are such as to hold theirrespective seaming levers with their seaming rollers separated and awayfrom the chuck 106 as the can 155 with its cover 156 is clamped intoseaming position. Immediately following and while both the seaming headand the roller actuating cam 182 are revolving around the fixed chucksleeve 101, the cam groove 181 first operates to pivot the seaminglevers 125 connected with the first operation seaming rollers 137 sothat these rollers are brought into seam closing position against thecan and its end or cover flanges.

At this time the cam groove 203 is holding the second operation rollers141 away from the chuck and out of seaming position. As the firstoperation of seaming is completed by the seaming rollers 137, the secondoperation rollers 141 are position. The rollers 137 are thereupon movedout of seaming engagement with the can. Following the completion of thesecond operation of seaming, the second operation rollers 141 are movedaway from the can seam and the. can fully seamed is free to be loweredwith a lowering of the plunger 151.

A knockout pad 205 may be located within the chuck 106 (Fig. 2) which ispreferably carried on the lower end of a, vertical rod 206 extendingupwardly through the chuck and having a tongue and groove connection 207with a vertical rod 208 slidably located inside of the chuck sleeve 101and carrying a nut 209 at its upper end. A spring 211 surrounds the rod208 and is interposed between the nut and the upper end of the chucksleeve. This normally holds the knockout pad 205 inside the chuck. Anysuitable means may be provided for depressing the rods 208, 209 and pad205 to strip off the seamed can from the chuck as the can is beingdischarged, this being the usual construction in double seamingmachines.

These operations of matically while the seaming head is revolving at arelatively high speed, this speed of rotation being maintained while acan is coming into seaming position, while it is being seamed and whileit is leaving the head after seaming. The seaming rollers are thusautomatically caused to folseaming take place autolow the propersynchronism with the other parts of the machine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent-that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a seaming head for uniting can ends to cans, the combination of astationary chuck for holding a can and end to be seamed, a head framehaving rotative movement around said chuck, a supporting link pivoted onand carried by said frame and having a cam roller rotatably mounted onits free end, a stationary cam associated with said chuck and having acam track traversed by said link cam roller during its rotation aroundsaid chuck, a seaming lever pivotally mounted on said link and extendingoutside of and carried around said stationary cam and having a seamingroller and a cam roller, and a movable cam associated with said headframe and having rotative movement relative to and on the axis of saidchuck and also of said frame, said movable cam having a cam tracktraversed by said lever cam roller whereby said seaming roller followsthe contour of said can and end and also moves into can seamingposition.

2. In a seaming head for uniting can ends to cans, the combination of astationary chuck for holding a can and end to be seamed, a head framehaving rotative movement around said chuck, a. supporting link pivotedon and carried by said frame, a seaming lever pivoted on and carried bysaid link and extending vertically and carrying a seaming roller at itslower part, a, stationary cam associated with said chuck for moving saidlink on said frame to cause saidseaming roller to follow the contour ofsaid can and end, and means for adjusting said cam relative to saidchuck.

3. In a seaming head for uniting can ends to cans, the combination of astationary chuck for holding a can and end to be seamed,- a head framehaving rotative movement around said chuck, a supporting link pivoted onand carried by said frame, a seaming lever pivotally mounted on saidlink and having a. seaming roller and carrying an adjusting slide, a camroller mounted on said slide, means for adjusting said cam rollerrelative to said lever by movement of said slide in said lever, and cammeans operating through said cam roller for causing said seaming rollerto move into and out of operative position.

4. In a seaming head for uniting can endsto cans, the combination of astationary chuck, an

. upper head frame having rotative movement around said chuck, a lowerhead frame removably secured to said upper frame, supporting linkshaving pivotal extensions pivotally mounted on and confined between saidframes, and seaming levers pivotally mounted on said links and carryingseaming rollers for effecting the seaming operation during theirrotation around said chuck and cams controlling both ends of each lever.

5. A seaming head having, in combination, fixed and rotary parts,seaming levers extending in the direction of the axis of said head .andhaving movable connections with a supporting and revoluble part thereof,seaming elements carried by said levers and movable thereby towards andfrom the axis of the head, a fixed pattern cam having connections withsaid levers to mainly determine the path of said seaming elements, and acam for giving inward and outward movement to other parts of saidlevers. m

6. A seaming head having, in combination, seaming levers extending inthe direction of the axis of the head, means for revolving said leverswith the head, seaming devices carried and operated bysaid levers, andtwo grooved face cams arranged on said seaming head transversely to thehead and cooperating with said seaming levers, and levers for movingdifferentparts of the said seaming levers inward and outward, one cambeing fixed and the other cam being revoluble.

7. A seaming head having, in combination, seaming levers extending inthe direction of the axis of the head, means for revolving said leverswith the head, seaming devices carried and operated by said levers, andtwo grooved face cams arranged on said seaming head transversely to thehead and cooperating with said seaming levers, and levers for movingdifferent parts of the said seaming levers inward and outward, one cambeing fixed and the other cam being revolu- 10b ble, and adjustablemeans connecting said seaming levers with said revoluble cam.

8.- A seaming head having, in combination, seaming levers extending inthe direction of the axis of the head, seaming devices carried by the m5lower parts of said levers, movable means for supporting the medianparts of said levers and revolving them with the head,-a pattern cam fordirecting the inward and outward movement of the lowerparts of thelevers, and a cam for di- 11%) recting the inward and outward movementof the upper parts of the levers.

9. A seaming head having, in combination, rotary and fixed partsarranged transversely to the axis of the head and comprising a pattern1215 cam fixed at the lower part of the head, a supporting and drivingrotary part above said cam, seaming levers movably connected with saiddriving part and extended down to and engaged by said pattern cam andalso extended upward, a seaming cam above said driving part and havingadjustable means to operate the upper parts of said levers, and seamingelements carried by the lower parts of the seaming levers.

seaming levers arranged at the outer vertical sides of the head and inthe direction of the axis of the head so as to be bodily movable inwardand outward, seaming elements carried by the said levers, a rotary partof the head having movable connections with the median parts of saidlevers, and means for moving inward and outward the upper and lowerparts of the levers, each lever being independent of the other levers.

11. A seaming headhaving, in combination, a rotary part, a rotary cam'above said rotary part, a fixed cam below said rotary part, a seaminglever extending past said rotary part and having means connecting itwith said rotary cam and said fixed cam, means movable inward and 4goperative seaming means carried respectively by said levers, cam tracksextending around the 15 seaming head and connected respectively withsaid seaming levers, and connections whereby said pattern cam alsooperates said levers.

13. In a seaming head for uniting. can ends to cans, the combination ofa stationary chuck, a head frame having rotative movement. around saidchuck, supporting 1mm mounted on vertical pivots carried in said frame,seaming levers mounted on vertical pivots carried by said links andextending along the side of the seaming head in an upward and downwarddirection, seaming rollers carried by the lower parts of said levers,means for moving said links in and out on their pivots to cause saidseaming rollers to follow the contour of said chuck, and means forindependently moving said levers in and out on their pivots to bringsaid seaming rollers into and out of seaming position on a can and endclamped on said chuck.

14. In a seaming head for uniting can ends to cans, the combination of astationary chuck for holding a can and end to be seamed, a head framehaving rotative movement around said chuck, a I

seaming lever extending in an upward and downward direction along theouter side of thehead and movably connected with and carried by saidframe and rotating therewith, a seaming roller carried by said lever,means for causing bodily -movement inward and outward of said leverrelative to said frame while traveling therewith, said means comprisi acam also rotating around said chuck and around the chuck axis but at adifferent speed from the speed of rotation of said frame for shiftingsaid lever to move said seaming roller toward said can and end to effectthe seaming thereof.

- WILLIAM F. BUTLER.

